Two females being held hostage inside Inglewood home, police say

Two females were being held hostage inside an Inglewood home by a gunman who opened fire on officers, police said Wednesday evening.

One of the hostages, believed to be about 14 years old, received a laceration when the man tried to drag her by her hair outside the home moments before officers arrived Wednesday afternoon in the 10700 block of 5th Avenue, Inglewood police said.

As the officers arrived, the gunman opened fire from inside the home, said Lt. Oscar Mejia of the Inglewood Police Department. Officers fired back.

Mejia said details on the shooting were still "a little sketchy" but that a male officer was shot once in the chest. He was "saved by his bulletproof vest," Mejia told reporters.

The wounded officer was pulled out of the line of fire by other officers who swarmed the scene, according to Mejia.

He said a female officer was injured when she apparently fell down trying to help the wounded officer.

Both of the injured officers have been with the department for at least 10 years, Mejia said.

The two officers were taken to hospitals. The woman was later released, and the officer who was shot was being transferred Wednesday evening to a second hospital for additional treatment.

Officers were evacuating residents from the area as crisis negotiators were talking to the gunman on a cellphone, police said. The gunman had not made any specific demands, Mejia said.

Neighbors said they were startled Wednesday afternoon when they hear screaming followed by multiple gunshots.

Walter Maye, 70, walked outside his home and saw officers converging on a residence three doors away.

"I went inside and that's when I heard the gunshots," Maye said. "I thought: God what is going on?"

"There were quite a few shots; I'd say 15," he added

Maye said that at one point, he saw neighbors evacuating, so he decided to do the same.

Standing at 5th Avenue and 104th street, he watched other residents being escorted out of the neighborhood by officers.